Lee Kennedy Co. selected for 300,000 s/f fit out

Lee Kennedy Co. will complete a 300,000 s/f fit out of the old Verizon building at 185 Franklin St. in a $40 million construction effort to help BrownBrothers Harriman consolidate its Boston contingent into one headquarters location. Lee Kennedy Co. will build out 12 floors of new office space in a scope of work includes open work stations, perimeter offices, trading areas with heavy tel-data requirements, a new conference center, training rooms, a full-service cafeteria and kitchen, an executive dining facility, atriums and interconnecting stairs. Lee Kennedy Co. has begun a three-month preconstruction process with design partners Habjan Architecture + Interior Design out of New York City and Boston-based Dyer Brown & Associates. Construction is slated to begin in November and final occupancy in August 2013. In addition to the size and scope of work, an added level of complexity comes from the need to repurpose a building originally constructed as a telecom outpost. The 65-year-old building has built in telecom infrastructure along with heavy switch gear and unique equipment that will need to be removed. Additional challenges include varying deck-to-deck heights on every floor and unreliable as-built drawings to help the entire team ascertain existing conditions. "We are excited to work with Brown Brothers Harriman again," said Scott Giles, vice president - interiors. "The project at 185 Franklin combines elements that play to our strengths as a team - preconstruction services, construction over multiple floors, interconnecting stairs and complex system infrastructure. It will be a fast-paced, rewarding project for the entire team."